Case Making Clothes Moth in Brisbane

Recently Peter, one of our technicians, found these little pests hiding under a couch and gnawing at the rug, with the homeowner having no idea they were even there. The bugs you can see are ‘Case-Making Clothes Moths‘, but it is their larvae that do all the damage, as you can see in the threadbare Persian rug that was under the couch.

By staying in these dark and secluded areas, these case making clothes moth larvae are able to destroy rugs and couches before you may even know you have them.

Great find, Peter!

What can Amalgamated Pest Control do about Carpet Pests?

In this case, Peter preformed a specialsed carpet pest treatment to combat the case-making clothes moths.

Are you worried about carpet pests or other pests around your home?

If you suspect you may have some unwanted guests in your home, call Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane today! We’ll sort them out for you!

With the colder months upon us, there is one unwelcome house guest in particular that is waiting to get into a nice warm home to raise their families. Rats and Mice will attempt to enter homes from now and continue throughout winter. This time of year is what the Pest Control industry refers to as ‘Rodent Season’. The fact is, rodents are breeding all year around – they breed just as much in summer as they do in winter. The difference in the colder months is that now our homes provide a fantastic warm place for rodents to continue to live during winter.

External conditions are starting to become less attractive for Rats and Mice. This image shows a Norway Rat (often simply called a brown rat) about to enter a home. These rats prefer to burrow, but have actually started to nest within the home due to the weather getting colder. These are warm blooded mammals, and the warmth of an insulated roof space or cavity is much more appealing than a hole in the ground outside in the cold.

Norway rat entering home

Just like humans, rodents like to live in warm environments. Rats and mice find their way into a structure through small holes, make their way through the wall cavities and exploit almost any area inside your home. The roof void, wall cavities and other confined voids in and around your home make excellent nesting areas. Apart from being a nice warm place to nest this time of year, once in your home food and water is more easily accessed, often directly from your very own kitchen.

Apart from the obvious threat of disease, rats will also cause a lot of damage. Rodent’s teeth continue to grow throughout their lifetime, and if they do not continuously gnaw to keep them in check, their teeth will become too large and essentially useless to them. Interestingly, the name Rodent comes from a Latin word which basically means to gnaw.

Wall damage from rats

Some of the damage caused by these pests will be noticeable and repairable, like this hole made in a wall by rats, giving them further access to wall cavities and other areas of your home.

Some damage, however, is a lot harder to spot, like these internal electrical wires that have been chewed back to bare copper.

In cases like these, you will most likely not notice anything at all until there are problems with your power, or even worse, a potential fire. Remember, rats and mice will always be gnawing on something, and it’s well documented that they have been the cause of many fires.

Electrical wiring damaged by rodents

There are things that you can do around your home that will help make your property less attractive for rodents to live.

Ensure all of your household garbage is in tightly sealed bins which rats and mice cannot access. This helps to restrict their access to food as much as possible. Rodents are opportunistic feeders – while they have their preferred food sources, they will still eat almost anything.

Alter your building so that Rodents cannot gain entry. Look for access holes that rats can use, such as where pipes enter buildings, gaps under external doors, etc. Sealing these and other similar points will make it harder for rodents to enter. Using a gutter guard can also be helpful to stop them entering the roof via the gutters.

Trim excess trees and shrubs from around the perimeter of structure especially trees that overhang the roof. This will both take away harbourage areas and make accessing the roof a little bit harder for them.

When all else fails, other control measures will need to be implemented. Here at Amalgamated Pest Control, we are the experts at assessing all of your options and presenting the available solutions to you.

What will you do for me?

If we are called to your home because you suspect or know you have a rodent problem, the first thing we will do is conduct a full rodent inspection. We look at all areas of known activity, internally and externally, including the roof void and the sub-floor. This inspection allows us to identify the rodent species, any nesting areas, travel routes, and where they are getting food and water from.

With this crucial information, we can than implement a control strategy best suited to the problem and the property. We will also provide you with important recommendations on things you can alter or fix to manage the environment and make it less appealing to rodents. Once management has been implemented, we will keep coming back to check the bait/trap placement until the problem is controlled. We will also point out all the proofing measures that can be undertaken to keep rodents out in the future.

Remember – if the rodents come back, so will we.

If you even think you may have a rodent problem, call us here at your local Amalgamated Pest Control today.

Well winter is finally upon us and while things may slow down for some pests in ‘pest world’ not so with many other.

Winter Pests

During winter we get increased threats from rodents, but our favourite ‘general pests’ are still active. Termites keep munching, cockroaches keep on creeping and ants keep on crawling.

This year there a new mosquito on the loose that is a spreader of chronic disease – and this mosquito doesn’t mind the colder weather. You might even discover that some of the favourite winter woollies that you pull out of storage may have been damaged by some ‘pest’ as well, nothing much you can do about that now – but there are things to do before you store the winter clothes away before next spring.

Winter Pest Checklist

Here’s a checklist of things to do this winter to keep you pest problems to a minimum:

Tidy the Clutter:

Discover all the ‘hidden stuff’ you forgot you had – and re-stow it or throw it! If you have a lot of stuff – then its important to re-inspect/move it on a regular basis to discourage rats and mice from setting up an undetected camp.

Remove Cardboard and Fabric. If you need a box – think of things other than cardboard. Plastic or metal containers are much better, this can discourage rodents and cockroaches.

General Storage:

If you’re storing something a rodent would like – then put it in a sealed box or container that they can’t get in to.

Remove any food sources:

Don’t encourage rodents to stay by giving them an easy meal. (for example, don’t leave uneaten pet food lying around). Ants are also attracted to left over food.

Seal of entry points into the building. Especially for rodents you need to seal up any holes with small gauge mesh or similar material that a rodent cannot gnaw through, and seal the bottoms of doors with automatic weather seals or weather strips. A rat can gain entry through a hole as small as 12 mm in diameter and a mouse only needs a hole no larger than 6 mm in diameter. Don’t just look down – Look up. Often rodents get in via the roof, eaves or other less obvious entry points.

Rodent Traps:

You can use snap traps to catch the odd rogue rat or mouse, but don’t use cheese as the bait – its really doesn’t work that well – things like peanut butter or cotton wool are far more effective.

Inspect your home for any containers that hold water:

This is really for mosquitoes. Make sure that water containers are emptied. This includes pot plant reservoirs. Make sure that water tanks are screened. Any container that holds water (where levels rise and fall) will encourage mosquitoes to breed. Keep an eye out for drains that hold puddles, car tyres and old buckets that everyone forgets about. Clean up the garden and make sure there is nothing around the house that holds permanent water that will rise and fall.

Screen your home:

Make sure that all your windows and doors are properly screened so that you have a safe retreat from these mosquitoes and cockroaches.

Eaves and Walls:

Check your eaves and brickwork for wasp nests and spiders. Wasps can be prevalent even during winter.

Bins:

Keep bins away from the immediate vicinity of the home. Keep them as clean as possible and wash them out regularly. Keep bins well sealed. They are a great breeding environment for flies and can encourage rodents.

Trees and Foliage:

Foliage against the house can create a highway for ants, rodents, spiders and termites. Make sure that bushes and shrubs are kept well away from the walls. Trim off any tree branches that overhang the roof and gutters, yet another highway for ants and rodents.

Still concerned?

If you believe or suspect that you have a winter pest problem, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for further advice.

1300 685 402

Despite the current cool weather we are experiencing, previous warm weather and heavy rainfall across the Brisbane area has created the perfect environment for mosquito breeding. Our outdoor lifecycle continually brings us into regular contact with these pests and in turn can put us at risk of contracting diseases and parasites that can affect our health. There are numerous potential health problems associated with Mosquitoes such as including Ross River Virus, Dengue Fever, Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis and Heartworm, (in dogs). Summer and autumn are when transmission of this virus are at its peak. During these periods, this pest can stay alive longer and potentially spread Ross River Virus. We have seen an increase in calls from customers still noticing these pests around their homes from residents in Brisbane, Boondall to Chermside, Banyo and Northgate.

How to get rid of mosquitoes’

The first step to managing mosquitoes around your home is in your own backyard. A lot of mosquitoes breed in fresh water. Their eggs are laid in fresh or brackish water and the larvae live in fresh water for a period of time until they pupate and eventually leave the water which they were born in as adult mosquitoes. The number one thing you can do is inspect your property for containers or reservoirs that can hold rain water. Mosquitoes will breed up in anything that can hold water. Even an old small container as pictured below can created a big problem for you. Removing items such as this so they can’t collect water is your first step. Things to look for that are similar could be bottles, cans, plants, watering dishes, tree hollows, open rainwater tanks, guttering, ponds, tyres and tarps. All capable of being fantastic breeding areas. Fish ponds can be a problem also. If you have a fish pond in your yard it’s a good idea to stock it with fish that will eat mosquito larvae.

How do you treat mosquitoes’?

Not all mosquitoes that are in your yard will have bred somewhere in your yard. They will fly in from neighbouring properties. It does become necessary to complete a treatment to the external areas of your home. Amalgamated Pest Control can provide good barriers to strategic areas around the outside of your home which greatly reduces the number of mosquitoes that will frequent your yard. Treatments are targeted at areas mosquitoes fly to and rest on when they first arrive in your property. If mosquito barriers are applied correctly it can last for up to six weeks I have provided many treatments for mosquitoes and have had great results and feedback from customers. A treatment such as this at the start of autumn will provide excellent relief from these pests through to the colder months when mosquitoes are not as much of a threat. There are also environmentally friendly treatments that can be applied to water sources such as ponds which are targeted directly at the larvae so that they can’t grow into adult mosquitoes.

1300 685 402

Many Brisbane residents ask us, during this time of year if pests will start to disappear now that summers over. Pests will start to reduce in numbers as the weather cools down and the optimal temperatures for maximum breeding and activity have reduced. This however doesn’t mean that your property will be pest free from now until next spring.

Generally temperatures inside homes are much warmer in the cooler months than outside and there is food and water available in and around the home. This being the case what usually tends to happen is many pests will seek out homes for these reasons. Nice warm shelter in which to live and breed, very good accessibility to food sources and access to water is also available.

Common Autumn Pests

The most common pests that will look to move inside are rodents such as rats and mice. The home is an ideal place for these pests. Roof voids can be full of insulation which is an ideal warm nesting material which they can burrow into to make their nests. Many believe that cooler months such as late autumn – winter is rat season. Rats actually breed heavily all year round, the cooler months however they much prefer, as we would, to get inside and out of the cold. Obviously once they are in the roof they can have easy access to your food and garbage. Once inside your property rats and mice can cause a lot of damage. They consistently gnaw; they have too to keep their teeth from growing too long. They’ll gnaw on anything. Many fires are started by rats gnawing on wires. Diseases are another big problem and its not just rats. Mice carry as many diseases as rats and potentially spread very easily.

What other pests are active in autumn?

Cockroaches will still remain a problem especially German Cockroaches. Their environment is your kitchen therefore they will continue to breed just as fast as in summer and due to their rapid lifecycle can become a big problem very quickly. They rely on humans for survival; we provide them with the shelter, food and water that they need. Amalgamated pest control offers 12 months Service Warranty on all species of cockroach including German Cockroaches meaning you never have to deal with these pests again.

How can I reduce autumn pests?

Some of the things that any home owner can do which will help reduce the chance of these and other pests getting into your home this autumn and winter are quite simple:

. Reduce access to food. All pests need food. Keep food sealed, clean up spills straight away, clean up food crumbs get rid of food scraps into tightly sealed garbage bins and ensure bins, especially outside, don’t let your bin become so full that you can’t close it. Rats have an especially keen sense of smell and will smell garbage from a long way away.

. Reduce excess water. If you have any leaking plumbing or pooling water around the home have them repaired. Water accumulating in sinks, showers and baths don’t’ help either ensure you wipe them dry. Pests actively seek water for survival.

. Keep them out. Keeping out some pests can be done. To keep rodents out keep trees close to the home trimmed away from the roof. Make sure your roofing is in good condition, broken tiles and the like can allow rodents to slip in cracks and gain access. Gutters can be protected with a rodent resistant mesh covering. Any gaps/holes in the external wall such as where pipes enter or weep holes are present should be protected also with a rodent resistant material.

Some pests can’t be kept out with physical materials. Cockroaches, ants and spiders will always find a way into just about any home. A professional pest treatment will stop these insects living and breeding in the areas such as roof voids, sub-floors, wall cavities many internal areas of the home and Amalgamated Pest Control will give you a 12 month service warranty on these three pests which allows you too live all year around with no worries.

Still concerned?

Contact Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for a pest management solution for your property. We are professionals at what we do and can give you the best advice on how to keep the autumn pests and winter pests out of your home and away from your family.

1300 685 402

We are currently experiencing an increase in calls from concerned property owners who are discovering invasions of black ants at their properties.

Black ants are seeking shelter and moving their eggs and colonies inside homes to escape the rain and take up residence at the home owners expense.

Our technicians have been performing black ant treatments in area’s across Brisbane, including Indooroopilly, Norman Park, West End and Chermside.

We recently conducted a service treatment at a home in Norman Park where we discovered large amounts of black ants moving in and setting up inside the roof void. Our customer immediately asked us to treat the area and stop these pests from entering the living areas of the home.

Black Ant Characteristics

Most ants that are found in homes nest outdoors and enter homes only to search for food or water or some where to live. Almost all ants are workers, wingless females that search for food and maintain the colony.

A small proportion of an ant colony are winged reproductive forms. These emerge periodically in swarms and fly away on mating flights.

How to treat black ant problems

An effective pest control treatment will typically include the use of slow-acting insecticides in baits which allows the ants to take the insecticide back to the colony and is the most effective humane method of eliminating ants.

Health issues and problems

Black ants not only cause a nuisance but pack a nasty bite if disturbed. They are not known to cause serious health issues, but if you or a member of your family are bitten, follow these basic First Aid steps:

Wash with soap and water and apply an antiseptic if available

Ensure that the patient’s tetanus vaccination is up to date

Apply an ice-pack to reduce local pain and swelling

Pain relief may be required eg. paracetamol or an antihistamine (to reduce swelling, redness and itch)

The patient should seek medical advice if they develop any other symptoms or signs of infection.

For any patient who shows signs of anaphylaxis, call 000 for an ambulance, and have the patient taken immediately to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.

Top tips

Products purchased from the supermarket or hardware stores are generally not effective in controlling black ants. These products are often costly and are not designed to correctly attack the biology of these pests.

You can help reduce black ant colonies at your home by following these simple tips:

Remove sources of food and water from the outside area such as pet food and water bowls – clean and change these regularly.

1300 685 402

Termites are well know for the extensive damage they can cause to homes and can often go undetected for months.

Recently we attended a job in Jimboomba where we had previously performed a remedial treatment for active termites around the home. Unfortunately our customer did not want us to complete a thorough Timber Pest Inspection to make sure there was no further activity.

Some weeks after our customer contacted us to say the termites were still there. Following a further inspection, we discovered more termites that had established themselves inside the homes walls. Fortunately, our customer asked us to do a full inspection and treat the termites.

How to treat and manage termites

In this example, a remedial treatment to any other activity found was carried out to stop any active termites and a full barrier with reticulation was installed around the property to stop termites accessing the home again.

A Timber Pest Inspection is the first step in the management plan for any property faced with termite activity in their area.

What does a timber pest inspection include?

A timber pest inspection will cover all readily accessible areas of your property – internal, external, (grounds, trees, fences etc), roof void, sub-floor and outbuildings (sheds, garages etc). Timber pest inspections take approximately two hours to complete on an average sized three bedroom home. Your Timber Pest Inspector will provide you with a detailed written report on:

Any visual evidence of timber pest activity and the extent of the activity and/or damage located.

A summary of any timber pest/s identified and a brief description of the potential damage they could to cause to your property.

How susceptible your property is to Termite attack, by looking at elements in the environment of your property which will make it more conducive to infestation and make recommendations for improving the environment around the property, making it lest suitable for Subterranean Termites and other timber pests.

Recommendations for a management plan to attack any current infestation and aid in reducing any risk of future infestations.

Report on any pre existing property management plan and make recommendations to ensure its effectiveness, whilst educating you on its maintenance requirements.

Still Concerned

If you’re having problems with ticks in your yard, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for further advice.

1300 685 402

We are receiving unusually high rates of calls from clients regarding ticks at their homes. With the recent warmer days, ticks are quickly establishing themselves in home owners gardens much to the dislike of home owners and their pets.

Recently we completed a treatment to control ticks in the Toowong area where our customer was finding ticks on his arms and legs after working around his yard.

Tick Characteristics

Ticks only food source is blood of warm-blooded animals and all active stages require a blood meal for nutrition. The most common hosts are dogs, cats, bandicoots, echidnas and possums, however sometimes humans can also provide the nutrition they need.

Health risks and issues

Ticks are responsible for the poisoning of many native and domestic animals. The effects range from discomfort and illness to death. In humans, effects can range from mild to severe allergic reactions to paralysis. There have been recorded deaths attributed to the paralysis tick. Ticks also have the potential to spread infectious diseases, although Australia is largely free of tick borne diseases.

If you are bitten by a tick, do not touch the tick as this will make the situation worse. Follow these First Aid steps to remove the tick as quickly as possible.

Ref: Queensland Government Health

Health risks for your pets

Early signs that your pet may have come into contact with a tick include:

Wobbly’ in the back legs or unsteady on their feet

Change in tone of your dogs bark

Loss of appetite

Vomiting or dry retching

Excessive salivation

Difficulty swallowing

Coughing

Noisy panting

If your suspect your pets are suffering from the effect of tick poisoning, please contact your local Veterinarian immediately.

How do you get rid of ticks?

Effective removal of ticks is best achieved through an Integrated Pest Management approach, which include changing the habitat and chemical control.

Top Tips – DIY

You can also follow these simple steps to help reduce ticks at your place:

Mow lawns and attend to other habitat modifications as recommended by your technician.

Treat pets with approved tick treatments.

Remove children’s toys and similar items from the yard when not in use.

Discuss other requirements with your local Amalgamated Pest Control branch. i.e., what needs to be done after treatment?

Still Concerned

If you’re having problems with ticks in your yard, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for further advice.